THE WICKER MAN 1982

 

THE WICKER MAN FROM JIM THE KILT'S 1982

 

DRAWING AT SQUAT'S HARE WARREN 1983

 

AT SQUAT'S HARE WARREN 1983

 

DAVID STOOKE 1983

 

PEARSON 1982

 

ROGER 1982

 

BERTIE 1982

 

KEV 1982

 

SQUAT 1983

 

ROGER AT SHAFTESBURY DROVE 1983

 

BOBBY 1983

 

LIAM 1983

 

MAGAZINE ARTICLE AS PRINTED

The following article originally appeared in Coaster Magazine, October 1982.

Green Lane - Freedom Fight

I would like to introduce you to a group of people living in caravans on an old drove road called Green Lane, just outside Salisbury.

Some of you will have heard of Green Lane already, while others would probably never have heard of us had we been allowed to live in peace. There are 70 permanent residents at Green Lane which includes 15 families who between them have 18 children (at time of going to press, there are 7 more expected shortly) and at least another 30 people who stay in the lane for parts of the year.

We have acquired the name of 'New Age Gypsies' but really we are just a collection of people who happened to come together in this spot because of a common aim - to move away from the town and try to live more in tune with the countryside. Living in the lane was a simple business, you just got yourself a caravan, chose a position and moved in. Sadly this is no longer the case. Why?

Designation!

Designation gives local authorities the power to prevent the unauthorised parking of caravans etc. The only condition being that they provide accommodation in the form of houses or sites for all gypsies who reside or resort to the area.

Salisbury District Council claims they have fulfilled their legal obligations by providing three sites for the gypsies of the area. These sites do not include provision for the people at Green Lane. The Council intends to evict us thereby making us homeless. They will then house the people with children while the rest have been told to fend for themselves.

Their reason for this action is apparently that we are not 'true gypsies', but, the legal definition of a gypsy as defined in the 1960 Caravans Act is 'a person of nomadic habit no matter what there race or origin'. Under this definition many of us feel that we should be recognised as gypsies and receive the same rights. Under the present law no other gypsy community would be split up in this way.

Obviously the Council won't be offering any of us the sort of accommodation we would find acceptable, if that were their policy some of us would not have needed to come here in the first place.

We feel the Council is refusing to recognise us as gypsies because they would then be legally responsible to accommodate the single people and childless couples as well.

In our opinion Green Lane has a rightful place in society. We are prepared to fight for the right to live Right.

Jon And Moira

Jon and Moira arrived here three years ago with their son Jake, now 5. At the time they were running the local wholefood shop and had been advertising for somewhere to live in the country. They moved to Green Lane almost in desperation not really wanting to live illegally.

They soon discovered what a lovely place they had found where Jake could play in complete safety.

Moira says "We're all brothers and sisters, we care about each other. If your neighbour is having a hard time you try to help them".

Jon and Moira like to travel abroad during the winter. They usually work their way through their chosen country and come back with the cuckoo. There's always someone homeless glad to use their caravan while they're away, but this winter they'll still be here.

Josie And John

Josie has lived here on and off for 9 years, most of the time with her husband John, but now she lives on her own with her youngest son, Rory, 2. John is travelling at the moment with their eldest son Caleb,6.

Like most of the people in the lane, Josie boils her washing on an open fire, then she takes it to the only water tap beside the wicker man, to rinse it. Maybe she'll stop on the way back for a cup of tea, if anyone's got the kettle on, but anyway there's always someone to chat to.

Ciderman

"For years I have travelled around these parts, working casually on farms and building sites. Never staying anywhere for long but Green Lane draws me back, time after time. Summer and winter there is always something happening.

The family atmosphere that exists in the lane is something that I would otherwise miss. If designation happens nationally people like me would no longer be able to live our sort of life. I would lose contact with all my new family in Green Lane and elsewhere."

Foxy

"We are building our Wicker-Man to use the voice he gives us to say to the world - Please stop weaving law around us. Stop making us fight! Authority must realise that if fear was a deterrent we would have died long ago. The more difficult authority makes it for us to become a stable community, the stronger our community will be.

The old knowledge is being lost but with effort it can be regained as represented by the Wicker-Man. When you see the Wicker-Man you see us, our simplicity, our ingenuity, our community.

We may not be allowed to stay - but he has allowed us to say "We are here", our brothers and sisters will find encouragement from that."

The Fox

Wal

Wal first heard about the Lane when he moved to Ringwood two years ago.

He was living there in a caravan on an unauthorised site until he recently moved to Green Lane just before being evicted.

Wal writes, "To be among friendly people and to live peacefully. This is the first time I have ever lived in a place like the Lane, where people try to live for each other and not for oneself, in a relaxed, calm atmosphere without the stresses and strains of modern living and noise. To live a way of life that is quite basic, where people are happy and content with living that way of life close the country and nature."

Jim

Through its connections with Salisbury, the Wicker-Man began as "an idea" to bring publicity to the plight of Green Laners everywhere. From the idea the foundations were dug and the building of poles and weaving began to rise slowly. "Much too big" said some (me as well). "Crazy" said others, but it started.

Over three weeks, as the two cylindrical legs rose to meet the crutch the builders grew into weavers and the Wicker-Man grew more alive and was woven with more care and pride. There are now several chamber-like rooms, a carpeted floor at twenty five feet, and we are going up faster and with more community spirit every day.

The Wicker-Man has become a community workplace, a meeting place, totem pole and a landmark. I am very interested in seeing how he will be looking when this writing is in print.

The Kilt

Absent Ones

Tony and Jo with daughter Keyah; Bobby, Roger and Karen are all in Hereford hop-picking. The harvest will be over shortly and they will be back home.

Babs and Cass with son Sam; Danny and Tess; and Joey and Manou and baby Daniel are all travelling abroad hoping they have a place to come back to.

Eddie is in hospital at present, we are all hoping he will be back soon.

Compiled by Kerry, Joy, Josie, Wal, Nick, Jim, Derick, Ruth & friends.

 

BUILDING THE WICKER MAN 1982

 

GREEN LANE SPORTS DAY 1982